Green Tourism: minimising the environmental cost of your holiday

Sustainability and green issues are now very much mainstream. Tourism has its part to play, and in recognition and support of this, we have joined the Green Tourism Business Scheme trusting that our efforts to live and promote sustainability will meet the rigorous criteria set out by the GTBS to ensure we meet a recognised high standard. And we have been recognised with a Gold award making us one of less than 200 in the UK and Ireland who meet the top standard.

By choosing Gorge View Cottage as your holiday accommodation, you are already minimising the environmental cost of your holiday!In 2010, the cottage was fully renovated toexacting environmental standards by a local builder (Gillam and Chivers) specialising in sustainable building, and a team of craftsmen builders.

Where possible local and/or reclaimed materials have been used for the renovation. The extended external walls are built of local limestone obtained from the garden. The roof structure is built using FSC wood, and tiled with reclaimed tiles, mostly from the original building. A rainwater harvesting system captures and stores rainwater for use in the garden.

Insulation: although the solid wall have been retained this has been compensated for by extra roof insulation. The windows are double glazed, and all the upstairs Velux windows (offering more views of the gorge!) are triple glazed.

Photovoltaic panels on the roof generate carbon-free electricity, and the mains electricity supply is 100% green tariff from Ecotricity(New Energy Plus). The heating is by under floor water coils upstairs and down and is provided currently from a high efficiency gas boiler, with the gas being supplied from Green Gas from Ecotricity. Plans for a wood pellet boiler are in progress to eventually provide fossil-fuel free heating. The wood burning stove in the lounge is a wonderfully efficient and beautiful feature for you to use reducing the need for the background heating.

The interior of the cottage is simply decorated using traditional plastering methods, leaving some exposed limestone walls as an attractive feature. FSC wood has been used for the flooring. Organic paints have been used throughout, and where possible, fixtures and fittings are in at least one way or another chosen with consideration for the environment and ethical trade. Organic linen and towels are provided for guests.

All electrical appliances are ‘A’ rated or better. The lighting mostly uses the latest low-energy LED units providing a choice of bright working lights or soft ambient lighting on dimmers. The water appliances are chosen for water-saving: the toilet is low-flush and dual flush, the shower uses an aerated head and the taps include new progressive-turn technology to save hot water. The kitchen was designed and built by Old Image Kitchens in Bristol using reclaimed wood, and local craftsmen.

The cottage is cleaned using environmentally friendly cleaning products, and easy-to-use recycling facilities are provided to encourage guests to recyclerubbish and compost waste.